Rookie kicker Walsh hits 71 yard FG

BringMeTheNews and KFAN's Joe Nelson was at Vikings training camp on Wednesday and he watched rookie kicker Blair Walsh hit six consecutive kicks from 65 yards or farther. After practice, the rookie out of Georgia told Nelson that he was "feeling it" and his longest field goal was from 71 yards.

Rookie kicker Blair Walsh says he was surprised when the Vikings released veteran Ryan Longwell earlier this month. He says it was a nice vote of confidence from the coaches and he's ready to make their decision look like a good one.

Vikings rookie kicker Blair Walsh went 4-4 on field goal tries on Sunday against the Redskins, but he was feeling sick the night before the game. If he wouldn't have been able to play, punter Chris Kluwe would have taken his job.

So how did the Vikings do last night? It was a preseason loss, but the first-team offense looked OK. The first drive was keyed by a 52-yard pass completion from Christian Ponder to second-year wide receiver Stephen Burton. It set up rookie kicker Blair Walsh's first career field goal attempt, which he drilled right down the middle from 39-yards out.

Christian Ponder's touchdown pass to Jerome Felton followed by five Blair Walsh field goals and a pair of Audie Cole interceptions led the Vikings to a 36-14 preseason win over Buffalo at Mall of America Field Friday night.